Major landscaping work done

Paul and the tractor have been VERY busy the last 24 hours.

The two grain bins that were directly east of the house are no more. Paul pushed them over with the loader on the tractor. They've been there since 1944. It's very different to look out and not see them.

Look closely in th eback and you can see the crushed remains of the bins. Our plan is to clean up all the saplings, farm tile and other stuff back there and edge it out, mulch the heck out of it and put up a big play set for the kids.

Paul also went to town in the back of the house cleaining up the lilacs that had gone wild with the honeysuckle. I love lilacs, but they were so wild that the two plants were choking each other out. Paul was able to pull them out with the tractor. Unfortunately though he got a bit too rammy and sheared some bolts off of the loader. Looks like we'll soon be looking for a new loader!

You can see what's left of the lilacs and honeysuckle.

The plan is to clear it all out, level it and make a gorgeous brick patio running nearly the length of the house with an outside wood log fireplace and plenty of raised garden beds for me to plant lots of annuals.

Below is an idea from BHG that has formed our ideas for what the new patio will look like:

I so love having a green thumb!!